Thursday, January 24, 2013

Type 4 Chi-To Medium Tank


The Type 4 Chi-To medium tank was the most powerful
Japanese tank built during the Second World War, but by
the time the war ended only two had been completed.
Unlike most Japanese medium tanks of the war, the
Chi-To was not based on the Type 97 Chi-Ha, and if it
had entered service would have been much more effective
than any other Japanese tank.

The Chi-To was much larger than the Chi-Ha, with a longer,
wider, tall chassis, supported by seven road wheels. It was
armed with a 75mm Type 5 gun, based on the Type 88
anti-aircraft gun, and mounted in a well armoured hexagonal
turret with more than a passing resemblance to that of the
Panther.



With 75mm of armour at the front, a powerful 75mm and a top
speed of 28mph the Type 4 Chi-To, the Chi-To compared
favourably to the significantly heavier Panther, but it was
developed far too late to have any impact on the course of the
war.


Type 4 Chi-To (medium seventh) medium tank

Stats
Number produced: 2 completed
Produced: 1945
Length: 20.75ft
Hull Width: 9.41ft
Height: 9.41ft
Crew: 5
Weight: 30 tons
Engine: 400hp V-12 diesel engine
Max Speed: 28mph
Armament: 75mm gun plus two 7.7mm machine guns
 
Armour: 12-75mm

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

A Tale Of Two Protze

Or Mr Tim Gow of Megablitz fame, is always correct!!!!

I recently acquired a WWII German Krupp-Protze Kfz 70 Truck
from eBay and thought it might be ROCO until I looked at it again
and noted from it's size along side my Matchbox version that this
was not the case! So once again we must defer to Tim's formidable
knowledge on all things approximately 20mm....Thank you for your sage counsel Tim. The above is the Matchbox version.

Some side by side shots, where you can clearly see the new
addition is a bit larger, perhaps 1/72nd?